Grantee Research Project Results
Assessing the Exposure of Winter Flounder to Genotoxic Compounds in Boston Harbor and Massachusetts Bay by Measuring Carcinogen-DNA Adducts
EPA Grant Number: GF9500234Title: Assessing the Exposure of Winter Flounder to Genotoxic Compounds in Boston Harbor and Massachusetts Bay by Measuring Carcinogen-DNA Adducts
Investigators: Penmetsa, Phanendrakumar
Institution: North Carolina State University
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: June 1, 1995 through January 1, 2000
Project Amount: $24,786
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (1995) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Academic Fellowships , Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , Fellowship - Ecology
Objective:
For this project, the general hypothesis to be tested is as follows: since DNA adducts are key factors in chemical carcinogenesis, fish exposed to high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and that have evidence of tumor formation, should have higher levels of target tissue DNA adducts compared to fish exposed to low levels of PAH. Consequently, the missing link in the etiology of neoplasia in bottom fish from contaminated sites could be the level of carcinogen-DNA adducts in the target tissue. The three specific goals are: 1) to develop a CE/LIF method for analysis of PAH-DNA adducts; 2) to utilize the CE/LIF method for analysis of hepatic PAH-DNA adducts in fish exposed to carcinogenic PAH and sediment extracts under laboratory conditions. This specific goal will determine if CE/LIF possesses the adequate resolution and sensitivity for analysis of PAH-DNA adducts in vivo; 3) to measure hepatic PAH-DNA adducts in winter flounder from Boston Harbor collected over a 10 year period. This specific aim addresses the potential usefulness of CE/LIF for analysis of PAH-DNA adducts in winter flounder exposed to PAH in the field and provide the missing data for establishing a casual relationship between exposure to PAH and development of hepatic neoplasia in this species. For the first goal, PAH-DNA adducts will be produced in vitro using the Norwood procedure. Capillary electrophoresis will be performed. For the second goal, winter flounder will be injected parenterally with carcinogenic PAH at concentrations that represent the range of exposure in Boston Harbor and Massachusetts Bay and an organic-solvent extract of sediments from Boston Harbor and Massachusetts Bay. Control fish will be given an injection of solvent vehicle only. To determine the full potential of CE/LIF, it must be employed in the field for analysis of complex real-world samples. It is anticipated that CE/LIF will be useful for analysis of hepatic PAH-DNA adducts in winter flounder exposed to PAH in the environment.
Supplemental Keywords:
RFA, Geographic Area, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Ecosystem Protection, exploratory research environmental biology, State, Ecological Effects - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Mid-Atlantic, Ecological Indicators, ecosystem assessment, Massachusetts Bay, winter flounder, hepatic neoplasia, Massachusetts (MA), PAH, genotoxic compounds, Boston Harbor, carcinogen DNA adductsProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.